Cheilocostus speciosus
| Crêpe ginger | |
|---|---|
| |
| In Tortuguero, Costa Rica | |
_-_Bukidnon,_Philippines_01.jpg)
| |
| In Bukidnon, Philippines | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Zingiberales |
| Family: | Costaceae |
| Genus: | Cheilocostus |
| Species: | C. speciosus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Cheilocostus speciosus | |
| Synonyms | |
many more | |
Cheilocostus speciosus, or crêpe ginger, is a species of flowering plant in the family Costaceae. Some botanists have now revived the synonym Hellenia speciosa for this species.[3]
It is native to southeast Asia and surrounding regions, from India to China to Queensland, It is especially common on the Greater Sunda Islands in Indonesia. It is also reportedly naturalized in Puerto Rico, Mauritius, Réunion, Fiji, Hawaii, Costa Rica, Belize, Melanesia, Micronesia, and the West Indies. It is widely cultivated as an ornamental.[4]
Description
[edit]Cheilocostus speciosus and other members of the Costaceae differ from gingers by having only one row of spirally arranged leaves. The species reproduces vegetatively by rhizome, and birds disperse the seeds when they feed on the fruits.
This plant is cultivated in South Asia and Southeast Asia for its medicinal uses, and is cultivated elsewhere as an ornamental. In some areas Cheilocostus speciosus is introduced and has become an invasive species.
Habitat
[edit]The habitat where this species is found is roadside ditches and low-lying areas in tropical forests. Flowering starts after onset of the rainy season.
Human relevance
[edit]The plant has many historical uses in Ayurveda, where the rhizome has been used to treat fever, rash, asthma, bronchitis, and intestinal worms. It is mentioned in the Kama Sutra as an ingredient in a cosmetic to be used on the eyelashes to increase sexual attractiveness. It is used to treat kidney problems and other urinary problems in Mizo Traditional Medicine. It was used as a traditional medicine by Malays when evil spirits have possessed a body,[5] as well as for the treatment of high fever, smallpox and as a purgative.[6]
Gallery
[edit]-
Bud -
Leaf from back side -
Transformation from flower to seeds -
Seeds -
Inflorescence after flowers died -
New leaf -
In Basse Terre, Guadeloupe -
-
New buds after winter
References
[edit]- ^ Poulsen, A.D.; van Caspel, P. (2020). "Cheilocostus speciosus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T158548274A158548791. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T158548274A158548791.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
- ^ "Cheilocostus speciosus (J.König) C.Specht". The Plant List. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
- ^ "Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families, Hellenia speciosa (retrieved 23 September 2020: also Plants of the World Online and IPNI)".
- ^ "Cheilocostus speciosus: info from PIER (PIER species info)". www.hear.org. Archived from the original on July 15, 2007.
- ^ https://florafaunaweb.nparks.gov.sg/special-pages/plant-detail.aspx?id=1869[permanent dead link]
- ^ Samy, Joseph (2005). Herbs of Malaysia. Times Editions. p. 85. ISBN 9833001793.
External links
[edit]
Media related to Hellenia speciosa at Wikimedia Commons- Horticultural Info
- FloriData Info Page
| Cheilocostus speciosus |
|
|---|---|
| Costus speciosus |
|
| Banksea speciosa | |
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
